Will you test? Will you judge?

Do you know it all? Do you understand it all? Do you think bad things are from God? Do you think you know why things are happening? Could it be a test or trial that has been allowed to happen? Could it be that God is going to use what the devil planned for evil and use it for good? Don’t be so proud to think you have it all under control or all covered and figured out.

Today’s reading continues in the book of Job with chapter 34. We Elihu wanting to test Job’s words, Job’s claims…

Testing Job’s Claims

1Then Elihu answered:

2“Hear my words, you wise men; give ear to me, you men of learning.

3For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.

4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; Let us learn together what is good.

5“For Job says, ‘I am righteous, but God has deprived me of justice.

6Concerning my right, should I lie? My wound is incurable, although I am without transgression.’

7What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water,

8who keeps company with evildoers, and walks with wicked men?

9For he says, ‘It does not profit a man when he makes his delight with God.’

10“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding: Wickedness is far from God, injustice from Shaddai

11For He repays a person for what he has done, and brings on the person what he deserves.

12“Truly God does not act wickedly, and Shaddai does not pervert justice.

13Who appointed Him over the earth? Who put Him over the whole world?

14“If He were to set His heart on it, and gather to Himself His Ruach and breath,

15all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to dust.

16“Now if you have understanding, hear this; give ear to the sound of my words.

17Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the mighty, righteous One?

18Who says to a king, ‘Worthless man’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked men’!

19Who shows no partiality before princes, and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of His hands.

20They die in a moment, at midnight, people are shaken and they pass away. The mighty are removed without a hand.

21“For His eyes are on the ways of man; He sees all his steps.

22There is no gloom and no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.

23For He does not consider a man further that he should go before God in judgment.

24He shatters the mighty without inquiry, and sets others in their place.

25Thus He recognizes their deeds, He overturns them in the night and they are crushed.

26He strikes them for their wickedness in a place where people can see,

27because they turned from following Him, and have not understood any of His ways.

28They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, so that He hears the cry of the afflicted.

29“But if He is quiet, who can condemn Him? If He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He is over a nation and an individual alike,

30so that godless men should not rule, nor lay snares for people.

31“Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have born chastisement, but I will not act wickedly any more.

32Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done evil, I will not do it again.’

33Should He requite it on your terms, because you reject it? But you must choose and not I; now declare what you know.

34“Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me,

35‘Job speaks without knowledge, and his words lack understanding.’

36Oh, that Job might be tested to the end, for answering like wicked men.

37For he adds rebellion to his sin; in our midst he claps his hands and multiplies his words against God.”

–from Job 34

How could we think that God would do something back when we know that God is Love and when we look up the definition of Love from 1 Corinthians 13 and replace the word Love with God, we get this…(because God = Love)

God is patient

God is kind

God does not envy

God does not brag

God is not puffed up

God does not behave inappropriately,

God does not seek its own way,

God is not provoked,

God keeps no account of wrong,

God does not rejoice over injustice but rejoices in the truth;

God bears all things

God believes all things

God hopes all things

God endures all things.

God never fails

So if we walked and lived in love, imagine being able to replace Love with our names. Give it a try and see if you can live it out!

Today’s reading continues in and concludes with Luke 22…starting out the day before Passover. The religious leaders were looking for a way to do away with Jesus. Satan entered into Judas Iscariot who went and met with the religious leaders to determine how he may be able to betray Jesus. They came to an agreement and agreed to pay him and started to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus when there wouldn’t be a large crowd.

Luke continues to describe how Jesus had the last supper with the apostles. Speaking to the Passover lamb, the ultimate sacrifice. He sent Peter and John to get things ready for the Passover. Jesus gave them instructions on where to go and how to know where to prepare it. When the time came, they all sat at the table.

15And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

16For I tell you, I will never eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

17And when He had taken a cup and offered the bracha, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.

18For I tell you that I will never drink of the fruit of the vine from now on, until the kingdom of God comes.”

19And when He had taken matzah and offered the bracha, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you. Do this in memory of Me.”

20In the same way, He took the cup after the meal, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

21But look, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table.

22For indeed, the Son of Man is going as has been predetermined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”

23So they began to discuss among themselves which of them it might be who would do this thing.

24But there was also a quarrel among them about which of them is considered the greatest.

–from Luke 22

So Jesus explains how the ways of the world are different from the ways of God. He explains how rulers in the world ask others to serve whereas He had come to serve!

26But with you, it is not so. Rather, let the one who is greatest among you become like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.

27For who is greater, the one who reclines or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.

28“You are the ones who have remained with Me in My times of testing.

29And just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, so I grant to you

30that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you shall sit upon thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

–from Luke 22

He also calls Peter (aka Simon) because of what is about to happen and how He has a great plan for him to accomplish.

31“Simon, Simon! Indeed, satan has demanded to sift you all like wheat.

32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33But Simon said to Him, “Master, I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death!”

34But Yeshua said, “I tell you, Peter, a rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

–from Luke 22

He gets them to remember how God was able to provide for their needs when He had sent them out. He is now warning them about what is to come and how they must be prepared.

35And He said to them, “When I sent you out without a money pouch and travel bag and sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.”

36Then He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money pouch must carry it as well as a travel bag. And whoever does not own a sword must sell his cloak and buy one.

37For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And he was counted with the lawless.’ For what is written about Me is being fulfilled.”

38But they said, “Master, look here! Two swords!” And He said to them, “It is enough.”

–from Luke 22

After supper, He brings them out to Mount of Olives…

39And Yeshua came out and went as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him.

40When he reached the place, He said to them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.”

41And He pulled back about a stone’s throw from them, got on His knees, and began to pray,

42saying, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

43Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.

44And in His anguish, He was praying fervently; and His sweat was like drops of blood falling down on the ground.

45When He rose up from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them asleep, exhausted from grief.

46And He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation.”

–from Luke 22

While there, the time of betrayal came…

47While Yeshua was speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judah, one of the Twelve, approached Yeshua to kiss Him.

48But Yeshua said to him, “Judah, with a kiss you betray the Son of Man?”

49When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Master, shall we strike with the sword?”

50And one of them struck the servant of the kohen gadol and cut off his right ear.

51But Yeshua answered and said, “Stop this now!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52Then Yeshua said to the ruling kohanim, officers of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a revolutionary?

53Every day I was with you in the Temple, yet you did not lay a finger on Me. But this is yours—the hour and the power of darkness.”

54Then they seized Yeshua and led Him away and brought Him into the house of the kohen gadol . But Peter was following from a distance.

–from Luke 22

They took Jesus away and the scattered. But Peter followed along. And people started to question him because they thought they recognized him…

55Now they had lit a fire in the center of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter was sitting among them.

56Then a servant girl saw him sitting at the fire. She looked straight at him and said, “This one was with Him too!”

57But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I don’t know Him!”

58A little later, another saw him and said, “You too are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”

59And about an hour later, another began to insist, saying, “Certainly this fellow was with Him, for he too is a Galilean!”

60But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

61And the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.’

62And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

–from Luke 22

They beat Jesus and tried to find a way to condemn Him…

Beaten by Roman Soldiers

63Now the men who were guarding Yeshua began mocking and beating Him.

64They blindfolded Him and kept asking Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who hit You?”

65And reviling Him, they were saying many other things against Him.

Brought Before the Council

66As it become day, the elders of the people gathered together, both ruling kohanim and Torah scholars, and they led Him away to their council, saying,

67“If You are Mashiach, tell us.” But Yeshua said to them, “If I tell you, you will never believe;

68and if I ask you, you will never answer.

69But from now on, the Son of Man is seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

70Then they all said, “Are You then Ben-Elohim?” And to them He said, “You say that I am.”

71Then they said, “What further need do we have for testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth!”

–from Luke 22

So how will you respond to challenges? How will you respond when others are facing trials of many kinds? Will you be able to speak hope? life? love? Will you try to judge them?

Forgiveness

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. --from Matthew 6

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Annual Reports

Interested in what was posted prior to WordPress? You can find them here:
http://x.co/2005ToEter when I started blogging back in 2005, prior to the move from WL Spaces to WP. (download to be able to view the page rather than the source behind it)

Keys to Growth

FEAR NOT, JUST BELIEVE
Disciple them in the ways of the LORD.
- Embrace others where they are.
- Outreach to others as they are.
- Meditate on the Word of God daily.

Memory Verse: Proverbs 16:6
By mercy and love, truth and fidelity [to God and man--not by sacrificial offerings], iniquity is purged out of the heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid evil.

The Roman Road

I. Romans 3:10
As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.

II. Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

III. Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

IV. Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

V. Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.

VI. Romans 10:9-11
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

VII. Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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Do you want to talk about this? Would you like to pray with someone? Leave me a comment or send me a message as I would be happy to do that for you.